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[06/23/08 - 03:27 PM]
Program Partners to Launch "Daytimeplus" Initiative
The initial series, "Merv Griffin's Crosswords," "Style by Jury" and "Inside the Box," will give stations a choice to expand game show rotations and/or introduce a female targeted reality show.

[via press release from Program Partners]

PROGRAM PARTNERS TO LAUNCH "DAYTIMEPLUS" INITIATIVE

Innovative Plan Expands Station Program Choices for Fall 2008 and Beyond

LOS ANGELES, CA � June 23, 2008 � Program Partners today announced a ground-breaking new programming initiative aimed at providing television stations with more original programming and choice than has been available in the market for several years. The innovative package will also include tools designed to maximize local ad sales opportunities in today's challenging economy. Launching in fall 2008, "DaytimePlus" is a multi-series network designed exclusively for daytime, featuring content with proven track records among Adult and Female 25-54 audiences.

"Stations have told us that challenging local ad sales trends demand new solutions if the business of local television is ultimately to expand and prosper," said Ritch Colbert of Program Partners. "DaytimePlus is an innovative and timely business solution designed to meet these challenges head on."

"DaytimePlus presents all of the stakeholders with a dynamic new direction," said Program Partners' Josh Raphaelson. "It can reverse the cycle of rising programming costs, over-exposure and broadcast audience erosion and replace it with a continuous flow of new original programming at terms favorable to stations."

DaytimePlus affiliates will be able to choose from one or more of three distinctive Monday-Friday strips with a total of more than 400 half-hour episodes, and all offered on a station-preferred barter basis. The initial series, "Merv Griffin's Crosswords," "Style by Jury" and "Inside the Box," will give stations a choice to expand game show rotations and/or introduce a female targeted reality show designed to transition into and out of court, talk and news programming. A 4.5/2.5 barter split will not only guarantee stations the majority of saleable inventory inside each program, but also give them the opportunity to sell full two-minute breaks and take advantage of growing local demand for short-form advertising. Each series will have broadband and digital television components to provide highly flexible cross-platform sales tools for stations.

A key benefit of this multi-program approach will be the ability for stations to develop fresh content on the air without many of the obstacles that typically burden the launch of new series in syndication, including "top-down" market clearance requirements. With additional DaytimePlus series options beginning in Q1 2009, stations will have an on-going, year-round opportunity to freshen up their daytime strip schedules.

"Style by Jury" is a highly entertaining reality series that asks the question, "can you change a first impression?" Over the course of just seven days, candidates are transformed from the inside out with the help of an engaging team of experts in cosmetic dermatology, cosmetic dentistry, image, fashion, hair and make-up. Hosted by Bruce Turner and produced by Planetworks Inc., "Style by Jury" has a dominant track record in delivery of Women 25-54 and will offer up to 165 first-run episodes throughout the 2008-09 season.

Hosted by daytime television star Ty Treadway, "Merv Griffin's Crosswords," is a new-generation half-hour game show produced by Merv Griffin Entertainment, in which players compete against each other and the clock to solve a crossword puzzle. Crosswords Year Two will feature "Best of Series" episodes plus never-before-seen shows from its extensive 225 episode library.

"Inside the Box" is an exciting, original fast-paced game show strip that tests knowledge of pop culture and iconic TV program enthusiasts. Three contestants go head-to-head-to-head as they race against the clock to identify memorable shows, actors and characters from the TV archives. The Series' very unique game format presents a great �one of a kind', play-at-home appeal to viewers. The winner progresses to a lightning $10,000 Final Bonus Round. Hosted by Sam Kalilieh and created and produced by Lone Eagle Entertainment, "Inside the Box" appeals to Adults and Women 25-54 and will provide up to 195 first-run episodes throughout the 2008-09 season.

Program Partners is marketing "Style By Jury" and "In the Box" as an outgrowth of its worldwide distribution agreement with Thunderbird Films.

About Program Partners, Inc.

Program Partners, Inc. is an innovative television company that collaborates with networks, sponsors and audiences on original programming. Led by a core group of entertainment executives, including founders Ritch Colbert and Josh Raphaelson, Program Partners provides distinctive programs with high production values, while fostering new creative alliances with advertisers, broadcasters and global co-production entities. For more info about Program Partners, Inc., visit www.programpartners.com.





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· MERV GRIFFIN'S CROSSWORDS (SYNDICATION)





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